Attachment for car couplers



June 11, 1929. HUGHES I 1,717,036

ATTACHMENT FOR CAR COUPLERS Filed Feb. 9, 1928 INVENTOR.

Jbhnd. Hughes,

B V Z17! E Patented June 11, 1929.

UNITED STATES JOHN A. HUGHES,

OF WACO, TEXAS.

ATTACHMENT FOR CAR COUPLERS.

Application filed February This invention relates to an attachment for car couplers and is designed primarily for use in connecton with car couplers employed for coupling railway box cars together, but it is to be understood that an attachment, in accordance with this invention may be employed in any connection for which it is found applicable, and the invention has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth means capable of being expeditiously installed with a coupler to compensate for the wear on certain parts thereof whereby the coupling function will be restored, and the life thereof prolonged, as well as overcoming the necessity of discarding the coupler when it has been worn to the extent to impair or prevent its coupling function.

It is well known that couplers employed for railway box cars develop a defect, 0c-- casioned by wear which impairs the coupling function of the device, and under such conditions the coupler is discarded, resulting in large expense for maintenance. Now to reduce the cost of maintenance as well as to restore the coupler to its normal functioning position, is the primary object of this invention and to this end the invention resides in providing a wear compensating attachment capable of being readily installed with respect to the worn parts of the coupler whereby the latter will be restored substantially to its original condition so that it will not have to be discarded and will perform its coupling function in a thoroughly satisfactory manner.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, an attachment for the purpose referred to which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, thoroughly ellicient in its use, conveniently positioned within the coupler when desired, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

lVith the foregoing and other objects in view the invention consists of the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more specifically de scribed, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, variations and modifications can be resorted to which fall within the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

In the drawings wherein like reference 9, 1928. Serial No. 253,103.

characters denote corresponding throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a car coupler showing the adaptation therewith of an attachment in accordance with this invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view in elevation and partly in section of a coupler showing the adaptation therewith of an attachment. in accordance with this invention and with the attachment further illustrated partly in section.

Figure 3 is an edge View of an element of the coupler showing the adaptation therewith of an attachment in accordance with this invention.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the attachment.

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 3 without the attachment.

A wear compensating attachment, in accordance with this invention, is best shown in Figure 3 and is formed from a strip of sheet metal of appropriate length, width and thickness. The attachment comprises a body portion 1 of rectangular contour having extended from the rear side thereof a pair of spaced, parallel arms 2, 3 having their outer side edges flush with the end edges of said body portion. The arm 3 at its free end and extending from its outer side edge is formed with a rectangular lug 4 having its outer end edge flush with the outer end edge of the arm 3.

Formed integral with the forward side of the body portion and of less width than the width of the latter is a forward retaining arm referred to generally at 5 and which is formed with a curved depending upper end portion 6, a depending forwardly inclined intermediate portion 7 which terminates in a, forwardly extending lower end portion 8 of substantially ogee curvature.

Formed integral with the rear side of the body portion and depending therefrom is a rear retaining arm referred to generally at- 9 and comprising a part 10 substantially of concave curvature and which terminates in a yoke-shaped lower part 11 of a width greater than the width of the part 10 and having the arms thereof curled at their ends as indicated at 12. The curled ends 12 extend forwardly and over the upper face of the part 11. The arm 9 is of greater length than the arm 5 and corresponds in width to parts lift lever 14 to the locking member.

the width of the space between the arms 2, The upper end of the part 10 of the arm 9 is positioned between the arms 2, 3 at the points of joinder of said arms 2, 3 with the body portion 1. The part 10 of the arm 9 is curved m an outward direction with respect to the curvature of the upper part 6 of the arm 5. The width of the part 11 of the arm 19 corresponds to the length of the body portion 1.

WVith reference to Figure 1 the body of a car coupler is indicated at 13 and which. includes a lifting lever 14 passing down through an opening 15 in the top of the body of the coupler 13. The upper end of the lever 14 is provided with an opening 1G in which 1s inserted a lever, not shown. secured to the end of the box car and which when actuated in an up or down movement withdraws the lever 14. Arranged within the body 13 of the coupler is a locking member 17 to which the lower end of the lever 14 is attached. The locking member 17 is slotted as at 18 and with each side wall of the slot 18 oll'set as at 19. See Figure 5. The lower end of the lift lever 14 has oppositely extending studs 20 extending in the oil'- sets 19 for the purpose of connecting lphe ,)y this arrangement the locking member 17 is vertically shifted on the vertical movement f the lift lever 14. The knuckle is indicated at 21. The locking member 17 coacts with the knuckle to retain it in position. A triggeris indicated at 22 and a notch in the locking member 17 at 23. lVhen' the locking member 17 is elevated to a position where the inner end of the knuckle 21 will pass outward the lower port-ion of the locking member 17 will pull backwards so that the notch 28 receives the trigger 22. After a certain amount of use, the parts of the coupler become worn to the extent that the shoulder on the lever 14 slips below the part 25 of the body portion 13 and fouls, making it necessary to go into the coupling and renew the parts in order to readjust them; further the lift lever 14 will bring the lockin g member 17 so high up in the body portion 13 that the lower part of the locking member,indicated at 26 will rest on the shoulder 27 when the trigger 22 is thrown back by the impact when making the coupling, and the coupling will not be made. lVhen the parts of the coupler are worn so that the latter will not perform its coupling function, a. compensating attachment, in accordance with this invention, is positioned with the coupling. The length of the body portion 1 of the attachment corresponds to the width of the top edge of the locking member 17. The attachment is mounted in the position as shown in Figure 1 whereby the body portion and arms 2, S will be seated on the top edge of the member 17 and the arm 9 is positioned in the slot 18. The arm 5 is arranged against the forward edge of the member 17 The lug 4 extends upwardly and is arranged to oppose one side of the lever 14, see dotte line shown in Figure 1. The curled ends 12 of the yoke 11 overlap the lugs or studs 20 at the lower end of the lever 14. The lug 4 acts as a means to limit the upward shift of the locking member 17 so that the locking member 17 will not be raised sulliciently high to have its lower end 26 h ang on the shoulder 27. The part 6 of the arm 5 increases the height of the shoulder 28 of the locking member 17 so that it will engage the wall portion 29 quickly thereby providing for tilting the lower end of the locking member 17 in time to miss the shoulder 27. The attachment conforms in contour to the top of the locking member 17.

One of the defects of the coupler as built, is that it will not permit of the locking member 17 being any longer, otherwise it cannot be installed, in fact it is so long that it must now be turned at an angle to pass in, and due to the lack of length it wears slightly and develops the hang at 26. The attachment has the effect of lengthening this locking member 1.7 by means of the lug 4, after the locking member 17 is installed. The arm 5 is made narrow enough to pass through the slot 18, otherwise it could not be put in the bent form as shown.

The attachment is applied by first connecting to the lift lever 14, the studs 20 litting into the curled ends 12 of the yoke 11 and secured in position by means of a rubber band passing around the part 9 at the shoulder of the yoke 11 and over the shoulder 24 of the lift lever, and then the lift lever 14 with the attachment so affixed, is lifted into the coupler body above the normal position of the locking member 17 to permit without obstruction the introduction of the lattor. then the locking men'iber 17 is inserted and pulled forward and the lift lever lowered, with the attachment in position, and when the yoke 11 and curled ends 12 are lowered to a parallel position with the offset 19 in the slot 18, the locking member 17 is pushed backward into position, the studs 29 and the yoke 11 and curled ends 12 passing into the opening or offset 19, the arm 5 of the attachment passing outwardly through the slot 18. The arm 5 is positioned against member 17 as shown in Figure 2.

The installation of the attachment is expeditiously carried on and when mounted in position relative to the locking member 17 prevents fouling of the lift lever and further prevents the hanging of the locking member on shoulder 27.

The attachment is set up so as to lit the locking member 17 at its top and forward end and also the bottom of the slot 18 and with the yoke part 11 of the arm 10 receiving the lugs or studs 20 of the lift lever 14.

lllt) It is thought the many advantages of an attachmentfor car couplers, in accordance with this invention, to compensate for the wear of certain of the parts of the coupler to restore the coupling function of the latter to normal position can be readily understood, and although the preferred embodiment of the invention is as illustrated and described, yet it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction can be had which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

lVhat I claim is:

l. A car coupler attachment for the purpose set forth comprising a body portion for seating on the top edge of the locking member of the coupler, the locking member being of that type connected with a lift lever and formed with a slot, said body portion including a pair of arms, said attachment further including a forward retaining arm for positioning against the forward edge of such locking member, and a rear retaining arm for positioning in the slot of the locking member, said rear retaining arm terminating at its lower end in means to overlap the lower end of the lift lever of the coupler, and one of said arms of the body portion being formed with an upstanding lug.

2. A wear compensating attachment for the lift lever and locking member of a car coupler, the locking member being of that type connected with the lever and formed with a slot for the reception of the latter, comprising means for seating against the top and forward edges of the locking member and against the bottom of the slot in the latter, said means including a forward and a rear retaining arm, said rear retaining arm including an element for engaging said lever, and said means having that part seating against the top edge of the locking member formed with an upstanding lug to increase the length of the locking member.

3. A wear compensating attachment for the lift lever and locking member of a car coupler, the locking member being of that type connected with the lever and formed with a slot for the reception of the latter, comprising means or seating against the top and forward edges of the locking member and against the bottom of the slot in the latter, said means including a forward and a rear retaining arm, said rear retaining arm including an element for engaging said lever, and said means having that part seating against the top edge of the locking member formed with an upstanding lug, and that part of said means seating against the top edge of said locking member being bifurcated for the passage of the lift lever.

at. A wear compensating attachment for the lift lever and locking member of a car coupler, the locking member being of that type connected with the lever and formed with a slot for the reception of the latter, comprising means for seating against the top and forward edges of the locking member and against the bottom of the slot in the latter, said means including a forward and a rear retaining arm, said rear retaining arm including an element for engaging said lever, said means having that part seating against the top edge of the locking member formed with an upstanding lug, and further formed with a. bifurcation for the passage of the lift lever.

5. An attachment for the purpose set forth comprising a body portion, a pair of arms extending rearwardly therefrom, an upstanding lug integral with one of said arms at the free end thereof, a forward retaining arm extended from said body portion, depending therefrom and including a curved upper portion and a lower portion-of ogee curvature, and a rear retaining arm extended from said body portion, depending therefrom and terminating at its lower end in a yoke-shaped part having its arms curled over.

6. A wear compensating attachment for the lift lever and locking member of a car coupler to restore the latter to normal coupling function and comprising a unitary body for extending into and for mounting against the top and forward edges of the locking member, that part of said body extending into said locking member having means for overlapping the lower end of the lift lever, and that part of said body mounted against the top edge of said locking member provided with an upstanding lu 7. A wear compensating attachment for the lift lever and locking member of a car coupler, the locking member being of that type connected with the lever and formed with a slot for the reception of the latter, comprising means for seating against the top and forward edges of the locking member against the bottom of the slot in the latter and for connection to the lower end of the lift lever, said means including a lug for increasing the length of the locking member.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature hereto.

JOHN A. HUGHES. 

